Fasting

"In fasting, we learn how to suffer happily as we feast on God. And it is a good lesson, because in our lives we will suffer, no matter what else happens to us."

Dallas Willard
The Spirit of the Disciplines
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I like food. This makes fasting one of the more difficult spiritual disciplines to follow. Silence and solitude, celebration, simplicity - these other disciplines aren't as difficult because I'm naturally kinda quiet, enjoy time to myself, like to celebrate, and live a pretty simple life. Fasting, however, is much harder to swallow. The thought of fasting never occurred to me until about five years ago when I read Richard Foster's book Celebration of Discipline, which I've mentioned several times now. Initially I failed to see the spiritual benefit of fasting, yet decided to try it out, if for nothing other than the vanity of losing a pound or two. Foster said that its purpose and benefit would become more clear with practice, but after fasting from all but liquids once a week for about a year or two, I found myself becoming legalistic about it, dreading the day, and (I thought) not reaping much spiritual benefit from it, so I quit.

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2008 started with a short lived new year's resolution to make the spiritual disciplines a part of my 352 days. By early February (I'm just guessing - all I know is that it didn't take long), other things became greater priorities in my life. I wish I'd been more faithful in practicing the disciplines, because I think they would have prepared and helped me to deal more appropriately with the trials I faced that year. Among other losses, I mourned the death of both my grandparents. Suffering and death, disappointment big and small - they are an inevitable part of life, but how I respond to them is not. I was less than prepared to give a mature response to the disappointments I faced. I carried a face of gloom and allowed myself to become a product of my starving circumstances. I allowed myself to understand God and my own identity through that context, and I was neither happy with myself nor with Him. I felt quite lost, but was reminded by Coldplay that: "Just because I'm losing, doesn't mean I'm lost." Coldplay was right:) - circumstances always change & circumstances don't define me. Since I'm taking advice from pop artists, I might as well include Miss Stacie's advice to the downcast Anne (of Green Gables): "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

One highlight of 2008 was running my first half marathon in February, and then in October I ran my first full marathon in Chicago. In my training for these races I found that some days were easy and my legs would just go, while other days I'd feel like I could barely run a mile cause my legs felt so heavy. Even within the course of a run, I'd find myself thinking "ugh! I can't make it," but then a few miles later I'd be singing in my head and thinking, "I could run forever!" I learned that things change - to push on through the hard miles and wait for the burst of energy that would allow me to keep going. Just because I was struggling then, didn't mean I'd be struggling for the whole run - and I could even enjoy pushing through the tiring parts because I knew that that's when I was making the greatest strides forward as a runner.

In 2009, I tried fasting again, but the newness of the idea had worn off, and now it was just a hassle - I'd get headaches, find myself not getting as much work done, or find myself hungry (obviously) - somehow I thought a discipline should be easy!?! As soon as I started, I thought about quitting again - again I was missing the point. So what is the point? I think it's just good 'ole fashioned discipline. Fasting is one small way we can teach ourselves how to be content in good times and bad - when we don't have exactly what we want. Fasting is not for forever, but for a set time that will pass, and it does not dictate our countenance(unless we let it), but provides opportunity to demonstrate where our joy truly comes from. It teaches us to press on with the day - whatever circumstance the day brings - hungry or not - to press on!

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Paul to the Phillipians
ch. 4, vs. 11-13

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

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Lent is the 40 day liturgical season in which Christians specifically devote themselves to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This year, lent begins on February 25th - "Ash Wednesday" - less than a week away!